Just as I urged you [a]upon my departure for (A)Macedonia, to remain on at (B)Ephesus so that you would instruct certain people not to (C)teach strange doctrines, nor to [b]pay attention to (D)myths and endless (E)genealogies, which give rise to useless (F)speculation rather than (G)advance [c]the plan of God, which is by faith, so I urge you now. But the goal of our [d](H)instruction is love (I)from a pure heart, from a (J)good conscience, and from a sincere (K)faith. Some people have strayed from these things and have turned aside to (L)fruitless discussion, (M)wanting to be (N)teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.

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Footnotes

  1. 1 Timothy 1:3 Lit while going to
  2. 1 Timothy 1:4 Or occupy themselves with
  3. 1 Timothy 1:4 I.e., prob. the plan of salvation
  4. 1 Timothy 1:5 Lit commandment

A Warning against False Teachers

When I was on my way to Macedonia, I urged you to stay in Ephesus so that you could instruct certain people to stop teaching false doctrine and occupying themselves with myths and endless genealogies. These things promote controversies rather than God’s ongoing purpose, which involves faith. The goal of this instruction is love that flows from a pure heart, from a clear conscience, and from a sincere faith. Some people have left these qualities behind and have turned to fruitless discussion. They want to be teachers of the Law, yet they do not understand either what they are talking about or the things about which they speak so confidently.

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